Sara Fowler

The Path

Training at Mendocino College and California State University-Fresno gave Sara Fowler the formal grounding behind a career built in the cellar. She entered Kendall-Jackson as a Cellar Rat (1986–1992), a role that put her inside the daily repetitions of harvest work, cellar discipline, and the practical habits that shape a winemaker’s judgment over time. From there, the progression moved through a series of roles that widened the scope of the work: Assistant Winemaker at Quintessa (1999–2002), Harvest Winemaker Intern at Veramonte (2002), and Associate Winemaker at Franciscan/Mt Veeder Winery (1999–2006). Each position marks a deeper reach into the mechanics of production, where vineyard decisions, cellar timing, and finished wine all have to line up. That path continued into leadership with her tenure as director of winemaking at Liana Estates (2016–2019). The arc is cumulative rather than abrupt: years of close cellar work, then broader responsibility, then oversight that depends on judgment built over time. Today, Sara Fowler’s long run at Peju Province Winery (since 2006) and Peju Winery (since 2006) is matched by her role at Calmere (since 2019). The repetition of those appointments points to continuity rather than reinvention; her career is anchored in sustained work across winery and vineyard, with responsibility expanding rather than shifting away from the craft.

The Work Today

At Peju Province Winery in Rutherford, Sara Fowler has served as Vice President of Winemaking and Operations since 2006. The role places winemaking and operations in the same frame, which means the work is not limited to style alone; it also depends on structure, timing, and the daily decisions that keep a cellar moving. Since 2019, she has also served as Director of Winemaking and Vineyards at Calmere. Across both roles, the stated specialty is blending and creating Meritage wines. Blending is a discipline of proportion: each component has to carry its part without breaking the balance of the whole. That same directness shows up in her own words: “I'm going to do some food and wine pairing.” It is a simple statement, but it points to the practical endpoint of the work, where wine has to hold its place beside food and do so with clarity.

In Their Words “I am constantly challenging myself to create not just a product, but a true work of art.”

Acclaim

Sara Fowler has received Napa Valley Life Magazine — Best Local Winemaker (2016). Sara's honors include Best Local Winemaker.